Thinking Things Through

Thinking Things Through Archives

June 2007: "We're Always Doing It!"

July 2007: "Telephone Connections, Simplified!"

August 2007: "Lesson from a Fracture"

September 2007: "It's Not Just the Presentation"

October 2007: "Customer Service Disappointments: The First Step"

November - December 2007: "Peace: it can be more than a holiday wish."

January 2008: "Beginning the year, mindfully."

February 2008: "Making way by removing obstructions..."

March 2008: "Saying no . . . politely and effectively."

April 2008: " Increasing the likelihood of a “yes!”"

May 2008: " I absolutely disagree with you!"

June 2008: " It’s a self-preservation strategy."

July-August 2008: " Weather and Life"

Sept-October 2008: "Feedback: Powerful Stuff"

THINKING THINGS THROUGH
November 2008

Slowing Down

When the driver of the car in front of me didn’t move quickly enough as the traffic signal turned from red to green, my palm almost found the horn. (The resulting sound would not have been a friendly honk.) Fortunately, I stopped myself.

I was running late—and it showed. Because I had not allowed enough time to get to my destination, I was in a hurry—and I almost made my problem someone else’s problem.

Everyday, we feel the effects of a world that seems to be moving at warp speed. Yet the “inside” scoop is this: when we move and act with speed, we often sacrifice our shared humanity.

When our focus is on quickly reaching our destination, we ignore or disrespect other drivers as well as pedestrians. When we dash through the aisles of the grocery store, we can easily lose track of the fact that there are other shoppers in the store. When our facial expressions exhibit impatience, important conversational connections are often lost.

So today, may I encourage you to keep a deliberate and measured pace in whatever activity you are engaged. In doing so, I hope you’ll experience what life continues to show me. When I slow down, I always:
- think more clearly,
- hear (and remember!) what others say,
- resolve problems effectively,
- make better decisions, and of course,
- drive more safely.

Diane Grigg: Speaker/Coach/Mediator
Telephone 847-965-8970
www.dianegrigg.com